Automatic package stamping device



March ,8, 1960 A. F. BAUMGARTNER 2,927,525

AUTOMATIC PACKAGE STAMPING DEVICE Filed Sept. 20, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ALBERT F. BAUMGARTNER BY ken e w w w.

ATTORNEY March 8, 1960 A. F. BAUMGARTNER AUTOMATIC PACKAGE STAMPING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 20, 1957 F'IE EI INVENTOR ALBERT F. BAUMGARTNER YM kfff ATTORNEY United States Patent O i AUTOMATIC PACKAGE STAMPING DEVICE Albert F. Baumgartner, Corona, Calif. Application September 20, 1957, Serial No. 685,237

Claims. (Cl. 101-35) This invention pertains generally to marking devices and more particularly relates to a stamping device for use with a package conveyor to automatically stamp the front ends and bottoms of packages such as cartons or boxes as they advance on the conveyor.

One object of the invention is to provide an automatic stamping device for stamping packages as they travel along a conveyor.

' Another object is to provide means in a package, box,

.or carton marking device of the type mentioned for applying ink to the marking stamp during the marking operation only.

Another object is to provide a package or carton stamping device in which the stamp is turned to the position to commence a following stamping operation before the completion of the previous operation.

. Another object of the instant invention is to provide a device of this character which will first stampthe end of a package or carton and subsequently stamp the bottom of the package or carton as it moves on a conveyor. 1 Still another object of the instant invention is to provide. a stamping mechanism having a stamping roller which rolls on the surface of the moving package or car- .tion.

Fig. 3 is another view similar to Fig. 1 and depicts a further point in the cycle of operation.

at 10 is mounted on a conveyor 11. The conveyor 11 comprises a base plate 12 having mounted thereon two guide rails 13 and 14 on which two conveyor chains 15 and 16, respectively, ride. The cartons C, or other packages to be stamped, ride on the upper surfaces of the chains 15 and 16.

The stamping mechanism comprises a U-shaped bracket 17 having two depending legs 18 and 19. A stud 20 extends through suitable openings in the legs 18 and 19 and is maintained in proper position by two nuts 21 and 22 threadedly received on the stud 20, one on either'side of the leg 18. A sleeve 23 is rotatably mounted on the stud 20 between the legs 18 and 19. An L-shaped arm 24 is fixedly secured to one end of the sleeve Band is separated from the leg 19 by a spacing washer 25. A

' torsion spring 26 surrounds the sleeve 23. One end 27 -pf the spring 26 engages the arm 24 and the other end 36 with the carton C the flange 35 bottom of the carton C and :When the contact of the 2,927,525 Patented Mar. 8, 1960 28 is hooked around a pin 29 fixed to the bracket 17, whereby the arm 24 is urged to rotate clockwise, as Wiewed in Fig. 1, about the stud 20.

The clockwise motion of the arm 24 is limited by a stop screw 30 which is adapted to strike the lower surface of the conveyor plate 12. The stop screw 30 is threaded into a nut 31 welded or otherwise fixed to the arm 24 and is maintained in its adjusted position by a jam nut 32.

A stub shaft 33 is" fixed to the outer end of the arm 24 and extends transversely of the conveyor 11. A stamping drum 34 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 33, and is retained thereon by a nut 33a. The stamping drum 34 is provided at one end with an outwardly turned rim or flange 35 which extends approximately around the circumference of the drum. Two indicia bearing stamps 36 and 37 are mounted on the surface of the drum 34. The arcuate stamping surfaces of the stamps 36 and 37 are of slightly greater radius, and extend outwardly from the drum slightly further than the flange 35. As best seen in Fig. 5, the drum 34 is provided with an eccentric weight. 38, whereby the freely rotatable drum 34 will always be caused to come to rest in the position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5 when not being driven by a carton C on the conveyor 11 in the manner described below.

A freely rotating disc 40 is also rotatably mounted on the shaft 33 between the stamping drum 34 and the arm 24. The radius of the disc 40 is larger than the surface radius of the drum 34 but smaller than the radius of the flange 35 for reasons which will become apparent. A

light compression spring 41 is mounted between the end of the drum 34 and the disc 40 to damp out oscillations of the drum as it returns to its rest position under the influence of the eccentric weight 38.

A support arm 42 rigid with thebracket 17 extends forwardly therefrom beyond the drum 34. As best seen in Fig. 4, the outer end of the arm 42 is provided with an elongated slot 43 through which a stub shaft 44 extends and is adjustably secured with a nut 45. An inking roller 46 is rotatably mounted on the stub shaft 44, and is retained thereon by a cotter pin 47. The shaft 44 is adjusted relatively to the arm 42 so that the surface of the inking roller 46 will be tangent to the arc of the printing surfaces of the stamps 36 and 37 when the arm 24 is in its lowermost position illustrated in Fig. 2.

In the operation of the device, the spring 26 initially maintains the arm 24 rotated clockwise so that the stop screw 30 is in contact with the under surface of the plate 12. In this position of the arm 24 the drum 34 is projected upwardly through a rectangular opening 48 in the plate 12 and between the conveyor chains 15 and 16 into the path of movement of the cartons C on the conveyor. As a carton C advances, the forward end surface thereof contacts the upper edge of the arcuate printing surface of the stamp 36. Further forward movement of the carton C causes the arm 24 to be deflected downwardly and the printing surface of the stamp rolls downwardly on the front surface of the carton and prints the indicia set up on the stamp 36 onto the front end surface of the car- 'ton C.

At the termination of the rolling contact of the stamp on the stamping drum 34 picks up rolling contact with the carton and thus the drum 34 rolls around the forward lower corner of the I carton and along the bottom surface thereof by means of the contact between the flange 35 and the carton C until the leading edge of the stamp 37 contacts the bottom surface of the carton in the manner illustrated in Fig. 2.

The printing surface of the stamp 37 then rolls on the prints its indicia thereon. printing surface 37 terminates the flange 35'again contacts the under surface of the arts? 9 an .s t rui. il r i n bf the drum 34 brings the printing surfaces of the stamps 36 and 3'7 shecessively into contact with the inking roller 46. When the terminal end of the flange 35 is reached, after both of thestamps 3d and 37 have contacted the inking roller 46, the edge of the disc 40 contacts the under surface of the carton C and the drum 34 is released forfree rotation. when the drum 34 is releasedifor free rotation, the eccentric weight 38 therein returns the drum to its initial orientation relative to the horizontal in the manner illustrated in Fig. 3.

l d Finally, when the disc 40 disengages the carton C, the

spring 26 rotates the'arm. 24 clockwise until the elements are returned to their initial position illustrated in Fig. 1. From the foregoing description it may be seen that a relatively s mple carton actuated carton stamping device has been provided for use in stamping cartons moving on a carton conveyor. i p

7 While a preferred embodiment of the present invention described herein, it should be noted that various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit iofthe invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure byL et'te'rs 'Patent'is:

E 1 A stamping device comprising a bracket adapted to be fastened to the frame of a conveyor, an arm pivotally attached to said bracket, a stamping drum rotatably connected to said arm, means urging said arm for rotation about its pivotal connection to position said drum in the path of movement of articles on said conveyor, a first stamp on said drum adapted to be contacted by the forward and of an article on said conveyor and to roll on the forward surface of said article to print'indici'a'thereon, a second stamp on said drum, and a circumferentially "extending arcuatc flange on said drum between said first and second stamps, said flange being adapted to roll on the surface of said article around a leading corner thereof to rotate said drum to bring said second stamp into rolling contact with a second surface of said article parallel to the lineof movement of said article to print additional indicia on said second surface. 7

2. A stamping device comprising a bracket adapted to 'be fastened to the frame of a conveyor, an arm pivotally attached to said bracket, a stamping drum rotatably connected to said arm, means urging said arm for rotation "about its pivotal connection to position said drum in the path of movement of articles on said conveyor, a first stamp on said drum adapted to be contacted by the forward end of an article on said conveyor and to roll on the'forward surface of said article to print indiciathereon, a second stamp on said drum, a 'circumferentially "extending arcuate flange on said drum between 'saidfirs't and second stamps, said flange being adapted toroll 'on the surface of said article around a leading corner thereof to rotate said drum to bring said second stamp into rolling contact with a second surface of said article parallel to the line of movement of said articleto print additional indicia on said second surface, and an eccentric weight carried by said drum adapted to return said drum to its initial position whenever neither a stamp nor said things is in contact with an article on said conveyor. 7

3. A stamping device comprising a bracket adapted to be fastened to the frame of a conveyor, an arm pivotally attached to said bracket, a stamping drum rotatably connected to said arm, means urging said arm for rotation about its pivotal connection to positionsaid drum in the path of movement of articles on said conveyor, 2. stamp on said drum adapted to be contacted by the forward end of an article on said conveyor and to roll on the forward surface of said article to print indicia thereon, a disc rotatably connected to said arm for independent rotation about the same axis as said drain, the radios of said disc'being greater'than theradius of said drum but less-than the-radius of the'printing surface. '0! tflid it fl pa path of movement "be contacted by said stamp as said an eceent'rie weight carried by said drum adapted to return said "tb its initial position.

4. A stamping device comprising a bracket adapted to be fastened to the frame of a conveyor, an arm pivotally attached to said bracket, a stamping drum rotatably connected to said arm, means urging said arm for rotation about its pivotal connection to position said drum in the path of movement of articles on said conveyor, a first stamp onsaid drum adapted to be contacted by the forward end of an article on said conveyor and to 'roll on the forward surface of said article to print indicia thereon, a second stamp on said drum, a circumferentially extending arcuate flange on said drum, said flange being adapted to roll on the surface of said article around a corner thereof to rotate said drum to bring said second stamp into rolling contact with a second surface of said article parallel to the line of movement of said article to print additional indicia on said second surface, adisc rotatably connected to said arm for rotation about the same axis as said drum, the radius of said disc being greater than the radios bf said drum but less than the radius of said areuate flange, and an eccentric weight carriedby said drum adapted to return said drum 'tb its 'i'ni'tial l'posit'i'on.

5. A stamping device comprising a bracket adapted to be fastened to the frame of a conveyor, an arm pivotally attached to said bracket, a stamping drum rotatably "connected to said arm, 'm'eans urging said arm for rotation about its pivotal connection to position said drum in the path of movement of articles on said conveyor, a ifirst stamp "on said drum adapted to be contacted by the forwardend of an articleon said conveyor and to roll on the forward/surface of said article to print indicia thereon, a secondstamp on'said drum, a circumferentially "extending arcuat'e fian'geon said dru'rh, said flange being adapted to roll on the surface of said article around a corner thereof to rotate said to bring said second stamp into rolling contact with a second surface of said article parallel to the line of movement of said article to "print additional indicia on said second "surface, and an inking roller mounted in fiited location adjacent "said dram and'adapted to establish contact with said stamps as said drum rotates. 7 v

6. A'stampin'g device comprising a bracket adapted to be fastened to'the frame of a conveyor, an arm pivotally attached to'said bracket, '21 stamping drum rotatably connected to said arm, means urging said arm for rotation 'abou'tits pivotal connection to position said drum in the path of movement of articles on said conveyor, a first "stamp on said drum adapted to be contacted by the forward'endofan-article on said conveyor and to roll on the forward surface of said article to print indicia there- 7 s corid'stamp on's aid drum, a circumferentially extending arcuate flange on said drum, said flange being adapted to roll "on the siirfa'c'e ofsaid article around a corner thefe'of to rotate said drum to bring said second stamp-'into r'ollingcontact with asecond'surface of'said article parallel Ftothe line of movement of said article'to print"additional indicia on said second surface, an inking roller monnted in'fixed location adjacent said drum andadaptd' toestablish contact with said stamps as said "drnm'r'o'tates, and an eccentric weight carried by said drum adap'tedio returnsaid 'drum toits initial position.

7. A stamping device comprising a bracket adapted to "be fastened to the frame of "aconve'yor, an arm pivotally "attachedto said bracket, 'a' starnping drum rotatably conin'ected tosaidarm, means urging said arm for rotation aboutits pivotal conncction'to position said drum in the i of articles on said conveyor, a stamp on said drum adapted to be contacted by the forward end of an article'onsaid'conveyor and to roll on the-forward 'stirface'ofsaid article toprint indicia thereon, an inking roller 'mountd adjacent said drum and adapted to drum rotates a disc rotataljly connected to said-a'mrtor independent 1 rotation about wa time-axis Assn-a the rain; of's'aid aisle being greater than the radius of said drum but less than the radius of the printingsurface ofsaid stamp, and an eccentric weight carried by said drum adapted to "return said drum to its initial position.

- 8. A stamping device'comprisinga-bracket adapted to be fastened to the frame of a coriveyon-an arm pivotally attached to said bracket, a stamping drum rotatably connected to said arm, means urging said arm for-rotation about its pivotal connection to position said drum in the path of movement of articles on said conveyor, a first stamp on said drum adapted to be contacted by the forward end of an article on said conveyor and to roll on the forward surface of said article "to print indicia thereon, a second stamp on said drum, a circumferentially extending arcuate flange on said drum, said flange being adapted to roll on the surface of said article around thecorner thereof to rotate said drum tobring said second stamp into rolling contact with a second surface of said article parallel to the line of movement of said article to print additional indicia on said second surface, an inking roller mounted adjacent said drum and adapted to be contacted by said stamps as said drum rotates, a disc rotatably con nected to said arm for independent rotation about the same axis as said drum, the radius of said disc being greater than the radius of said drum but less than the radius of said arcuate flange, and an eccentric weight carried by said drum adapted to return said drum to its initial position.

9. A stamping device comprising a bracket adapted to be fastened to the frame of a conveyor, an arm pivotally attached to said bracket, a stamping drum rotatably connected to said arm, means urging said arm for rotation about its pivotal connection, adjustable stop means mounted on said arm and adapted to abut the frame of said conveyor to position said drum in the path of movement of articles on said conveyor, a stamp on said drum adapted to be contacted by the forward end of an article on said conveyor and to roll on the forward surface of said article to print indicia thereon, a disc rotatably connected to said arm for independent rotation about the same axis as said drum, the radius of said disc being greater than the radius of said drum but less than the radius of the printing surface on said stamp, and an eccentric weight in said drum adapted to return said drum to its initial position.

10. A stamping device comprising a bracket adapted to be fastened to the frame of a conveyor, an arm pivotally attached to said bracket, a stamping drum rotatably con-v nected to said arm, means urging said arm for rotation about its pivotal connection, adjustable stop means mounted on said arm and adapted to abut the frame of said conveyor to position said drum in the path of movement of articles on said conveyor, a first stamp on said drum adapted to be contacted by the forward end of an article on said conveyor and to roll on the forward surface of said article to print indicia thereon, a second stamp on said drum, a circumferentially extending arcuate flange on said drum, said flange being adapted to roll on the surface of said article around a corner thereof to rotate said drum to bring said second stamp into rolling contact with a second surface of said article parallel to the line of movement of said article to print additional indicia on said second surface, an inking roller mounted adjacent said drum and adapted to be contacted by said stamps as said drum rotates, a disc rotatably connected to said arm for independent rotation about the same axis as said drum, the radius of said disc being greater than the radius of said drum but less than the radius of said arcuate flange, and an eccentric weight in said drum adapted to return said drum to its initial position.

11. In a stamping device, an arm pivotable about a certain axis, a stamping drum freely rotatable on said arm, means urging the arm about its pivot axis to dispose the drum in the path of an article, a stamp on the drum projectingi'adiall'y outward a certaindistance from the periphery thereof, and a circumferentially extending flange on the drum projecting radially beyond the 'pe riphery of said drum a shorter distance than the stamp, said flange being engaged by the leading end surface of an article moving with respect to the stamping device to turn the drum and depress the arm during engagement" of the article and the drum to bring the stamp into Contact with a second surface of the article in predetermined spaced relation with respect to the leading end of the article.

12. In a stamping device, an arm pivotable about a fixed axis, a stamping drum freely rotatable on said arm, means urging the arm about its pivot axis to dispose said drum in the path of a moving article, a stamp on the drum projecting radially outward a certain distance from the periphery thereof, an eccentric weight on the drum arranged to swing the drum into predetermined position, and a circumferentially extending flange on the drum projecting radially beyond the periphery of the drum a shorter distace than said stamp, said flange being engaged by the leading end surface of the article and arranged to turn the drum during engagement with the article to bring the stamp into contact with a second surface of the article in predetermined spaced relation with respect to the leading end of the article.

13. In a stamping device, an arm pivotable about a fixed axis, a stamping drum freely rotatable on said arm, means urging the arm about its pivot axis to dispose said drum in the path of a moving article, a stamp on the drum projecting radially outward a certain distance from the periphery thereof, an eccentric weight on the drum arranged to swing the drum into predetermined position, friction means between the arm and the drum to damp excessive swinging movement of the drum under the influence of said weight, and a circumferentially extending flange on the drum projecting radially beyond the periphery of the drum a shorter distance than said stamp, said flange being engaged by the leading end surface of the article to turn the drum during engagement with the article to bring the stamp into contact with a second surface of the article in predetermined spaced relation with respect to the leading end of the article.

14. In a stamping device, an arm pivotable about a fixed axis, a stamping drum freely rotatable on said arm, means urging said arm about its pivot axis into a position in front of an article, a first stamp on the drum projecting radially outward a certain distance from the periphery thereof to be contacted by the end of the article first contacted by the drum when there is relative movement between the article and the stamping device along a path, the first stamp having rolling engagement with the end surface of the article to print indicia thereon, a second stamp on the drum projecting radially outward a certain distance from the periphery thereof, a circumferentially extending flange on the drum between the first and the second stamps projecting radially beyond the periphery of said drum a shorter distance than said stamps, said flange being engaged by the end surface of the article to roll on said surface and around a leading corner of the article to rotate the drum to bring said second stamp into contact with a second surface of the article in predetermined spaced relation with respect to said leading corner to print indicia on the second surface, a freely rotatable disc on said arm having its edge coaxial with respect to said drum, the edge of the disc being spaced beyond the periphery of the drum a lesser distance than the edge of said flange to engage the second surface of the article, and an eccentric weight on said drum arranged to swing said drum into predetermined position after disengagement of the second stamp with the article.

15. In a stamping device, an arm pivotable about a fixed axis, a stamping drum freely rotatable on said arm, means urging said arm about its pivot axis to interpose the drum in the path of a moving article, a first stamp on mamas the projecting radially outward a certain distance from the periphery thereof to be contacted by the forward "end of the article moving along said path and having mu ing engagement with the forward surface of the article to print indicia thereon, a second stamp on the drum projecting radially outward a certain distance irom the periphery thereof, a circumferentialiy extending flangeon the drum between the first and the second stamps extend ing radially beyond the periphery of the drum a shorter distance than said stamps, said flange being engaged by the leading end surface of the article to roll on said surface of the article and around a leading corner thereof to rotate the drum to bring said second stamp into contact with a second surface in predetermined spaced relation with respect to said leading corner of the article to print indicia on the second surface, a freely rotatable 'disc on said arm having its edge-coaxial with respect to said drum, the edge of the disc being spaced beyond the periphery of References Cited :in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 829,230 Pope Aug. .21, 1906 1,540,08-1- Manischewitz "June .2, 1 925 1,845,726 Scott Feb. .16, 1932 2,195,135 Serai Mar. 26, .1940 2, 63,436 Mann Apr. 28, .1953 2,775,192 (Hirschey Dec. 25, 1956 Gross May 13., 1958 

